DO TATTOOS HURT?The most common question I have heard regarding tattooing is, does it hurt? Everyone’s tolerance is different so the level of pain really varies with each person. Yes, it does hurt but it is tolerable. It is sort of a “scratching feeling”. The beauty of a professional tattoo and the pride associated with it far outweighs the needle pokes here and there.

HOW MUCH DO TATTOOS COST?The cost of tattoos is one of the first questions that is asked. The old saying “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be more true than in tattooing. Who ever you get your tattoo from, make sure they are a true artist that has had proper training at a certified shop. There are many people tattooing that will ink you up for a low price, but a cheap price, usually means a poor quality tattoo. Eventually you will have to pay more to cover it up. Look for a quality artist, and be willing to pay for it. NEVER haggle over the price of a tattoo. It is disrespectful to the artist. Remember, your tattoo is a piece of art you will wear for life.

WHAT TATTOO SHOULD I GET? This question is one of the more odd ones. A tattoo is something that you wear for the rest of your life so, only you can really answer this question. You can get whatever you want, and whatever your artist is willing to do. You can choose a piece of flash (image off the wall) or you can have someone draw a custom piece for you. As far as where you should get it goes, just keep in mind what you do for work and the type of social circles you are in.

WHAT IS THE LEAST PAINFUL AREA TO GET TATTOOED?This is another common question. Everyone handles pain differently and what might be a sensitive area for one person might not be for another. Below is a general guide for pain tolerance:(1.) PIN PRICK (2.) BEE STING (3.)FEELS LIKE A TATTOO (4.) NOW... IT F*CKN' HURTS

**TATTOO CARE SECTION**

HOW LONG DO I LEAVE THE BANDAGE ON?So, you just got your fresh tattoo and you want to take good care of it! From this point on, your artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your tattoo if you don’t take proper care of it. It is very important that you follow your artists instructions. Your new tattoo is sort of a wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection.

1.) LEAVE THE BANDAGE ON FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO HOURS.

2.) WASH & TREAT:After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial (Don’t use Dial Soap) to gently wash away any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. (If your tattoo feels slimy and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much of this as possible – when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates scabs.)Pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of ointment. A&D vitamin enriched ointment would be my first choice, but if you don’t have any, Bacitracin or a similar antibacterial ointment is acceptable.**DO NOT USE NEOSPORIN** This is a wonderful product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos.3.) LOTIONSYou can also use a specialty product such as Tattoo Goo, H2Ocean or many over the counter products work just fine as well. Use the products as directed as continue for 3-5 days. After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance free. A lot of artists recommend Lubriderm

4.) BATHING, SHOWERING, SWIMMING AND HOT TUBSYes, you can shower with a new tattoo. It’s OK to get your tattoo wet – just don’t soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so you’ll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as you don’t saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just remove it quickly with water. Swimming – whether it be a pool, fresh water or salt water – should be avoided for at least 2 weeks.

5.) SCABBING AND PEALINGAfter a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. Apply warm moist compresses to the scabs for about 5 minutes 2-3 times a day to soften them and they will eventually come off on their own. (Do not apply ointment or lotion to a softened scab – wait for it to dry) You will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, don’t pick, and don’t scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it

6.) PROTECTION FROM THE SUNAfter your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat, protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF sunblock. This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be a source of great pride.